Chronological Order of Inspector Troy books in order

Q: "Should I read Inspector Troy in chronological or publication order?"

"Most readers should start with publication order. Chronological order is better suited for rereads or readers who prefer strict timeline progression. Publication order was how Lawton intended the story to unfold."

Q: "Why does chronological order differ from publication order?"

"John Lawton wrote the Inspector Troy books out of chronological sequence, sometimes returning to earlier periods in Troy's career. This allowed him to explore different historical eras without being locked into a strict timeline."

Q: "What time period do the Inspector Troy books cover?"

"The Inspector Troy series spans from World War II through the 1960s. The books cover the London Blitz, postwar Britain, the Cold War spy scandals, and the social changes of the Swinging Sixties."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	Then We Take Berlin	2013	John Lawton	Buy
2	The Unfortunate Englishman	2016	John Lawton	Buy
3	Hammer to Fall	2020	John Lawton	Buy
4	Moscow Exile	2023	John Lawton	Buy

This page presents John Lawton’s Inspector Troy novels in story chronological order—the sequence of events as they occur within the fictional world rather than the order in which the books were published.

Reading in chronological order provides a different experience from publication order. You follow Frederick Troy’s career from his wartime cases through his later years at Scotland Yard in strict sequence. However, this approach means you may encounter references to events that Lawton expected readers to already know from earlier-published books.

For first-time readers, publication order remains the recommended approach. The chronological arrangement works best for rereads or for readers who specifically want to experience the historical timeline in sequence. See our main Inspector Troy page for the publication order reading guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I read Inspector Troy in chronological or publication order?

Most readers should start with publication order. Chronological order is better suited for rereads or readers who prefer strict timeline progression. Publication order was how Lawton intended the story to unfold.

Why does chronological order differ from publication order?

John Lawton wrote the Inspector Troy books out of chronological sequence, sometimes returning to earlier periods in Troy’s career. This allowed him to explore different historical eras without being locked into a strict timeline.

What time period do the Inspector Troy books cover?

The Inspector Troy series spans from World War II through the 1960s. The books cover the London Blitz, postwar Britain, the Cold War spy scandals, and the social changes of the Swinging Sixties.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order